Dustless blind brush



Feb. 11, 1941;

R. l. DIGGs y 2,231,802

nUsTLEss BLIND BRUSH Filed Aug. 2o, 1939 Y A ik 3 :11n/Ututo@ y' Rvcnmq) LQDuGGS., I

Patented Feb. 1l, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,231,302 Y nus'rtass amm sansa merma r. mnawumngton, n. c. Appunuon sums zo, 193s, serial No. zzasos a claims. `(ci. 15V-15s) The present invention relates to a novel brush to be employed in dusting and cleaning .Venetian" blinds. .The device presents novel meansl by which wooden strip window shades or Venetian blinds may bequickly'and easily oleaned,regardless of their size or spacing of elements.

The invention presents an inexpensive, readily assembled structure which is extremely easy to operate.

It is an object of the invention to provide means which will clean quickly and easily without the smear which is usually obtained when particles of soot and the like are rubbed. Y

It is an object of the invention to provide means whereby a plurality of surfaces may be cleaned simultaneously.

It is an object-of the invention to combine' suction means with brushes in a plurality of inlets.

It is an object of the invention to provide means which is adapted to thoroughly vclean all parts of the wooden strip blinds.

It is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable cleaning means with removable elements which are readily replaced.

It is an object of the invention to provide cleaning means which is readily attachable to a standard suction source and is adaptable to various sources.

Reference is had to the drawing which presents one form of the invention. Like numbers refer to like parts'throughout.

In the drawing:

Fig. l represents a device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section along one of the cleaning arms.

Fig. 3 is a section along line 3 -3 of Fig. 2.

The above embodiment of the invention presents a hollow housing I0 having a suction arm I I projecting from the center thereof. At the free end of the arm II is provided a cylindrical portion I2 to which the hose of a standard vacuum cleaner or other source of suction may be attached. If desired adapters may be applied to permit the attaching of hoses of various diameters. Hollow housing I0 is provided with a fiat face I3 having a series of threaded apertures Il. Elongated tubular plan view of the assembled members I5 are threaded' and of such size that Y they may be screwed into apertures I4 and form a substantial or tight connection.

Tubular members I5 are provided with an elongate slot I6 on the underside thereof as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A half round portion I1 of shorter length than tubular member I5 is employed to rmly hold in place downwardly extending portion I8. Half round member I1 may be soldered or yotherwise attached to tubular Vmember I5 at its ends. A circular brush I9 is attached to the upper side of half round member I1 by soldering the wire 20 theretoor by clamping wire 20 between members I5 and I1.

The end of tubular member I5 is plugged with a brush 2l extending outwardly therefrom. This brush may be fastened in place by a force fit. Nut 22 is threaded to t tubular member I5 and may be employed to lock member I5 with respect to housing I0 or to hold one end of wire 20. It also offers an advantage in assembling the brushes on tubular member I5. Tubular members I5 are readily removable holes I4 may be stopped by a conventional threaded plug. This permits the use of the'brush 'with blinds of different spacing between strips.

In operation the brush as shown in Fig. lis attached tothe hose of a vacuum cleaner or other source of suction and the handle II grasped in the hand. lHolding the brush vertically it is applied to a Venetian blind in such a manner that the wooden slats thereof lie between the brushes I8 and I9. Still held in the vertical position the brush is moved along lengthwise of the slats. It is readily apparent that the stiff brushes I8 remove the dust, soot and dirt from the upper surface of the wooden strips. This dust is immediately sucked through slots I6, housing I0, handle I I and into the sweeper or other source of suction. There is no smearas when a cloth or like means is used nor does the dust fly around. The brushes I9 dust the underside of the strips which naturally are not nearly as dirty and this dust is caught by the suction on the return of the brush since in normal use it is moved over the surface twice. The brush is pulled out part way at the end of a stroke. The dust on brushes I9 is then more readily removed by the slot immediately above since the slat of the blind no longer intervenes. It has been found however, that with the present invention, blinds are adequately cleaned by going over a surface only once.

It may be seen that the wooden strips of the blinds may be readily inserted between the brushes. Also it may be noted that the brushes I8 are much more firmly heid than the brushes I9. They therefore give a firmer cleaning action as is needed on the upper surface of the wooden strips of the blinds where most of the dust and soot accumulate. The brush may be turned sidewise and inserted between the tapes. In this maneuver,

l end brushes 2| likewise come into play.

from housing IIl and the l5 brush ride downwardly on the wooden strips or slats. This puts most of the pressure on brush I8 and assures the lifting of virtually all the dirt.

1. In a vacuum brush, a hollow body member, a hollow handle projecting from and communicating with said body member, a plurality of spaced substantially parallel hollow' digital projections extending from said body member on the side opposite said handle member and communicating therewith, stiif brush members extending from said digital projections. the walls of said digital projections having slots extending along their length on the side that said stiff brush members project, brush members along the opposite side of said digital projections from said stiff brush members, brush members at the ends of said digital projections, whereby slatted blinds may be readily cleaned without smear or dust by running the brush along the slats.

2. In a vacuum brush for Venetian blinds, an elongate body member having a channel therein, a plurality of spaced brush supporting elements extending outwardly from the same side and in the same general direction from said body member, each of said elements having a passage therein communicating with the channel in said body member, relatively soft bristle means on the upper side of said elements, stift bristle means extending downwardly from the opposite side of said elements, the walls of said elements having an opening therethrough closely adjacent the stin bristle means.

3. In a vacuum brush, a hollow body member, spaced, substantially parallel hollow digital projections extending from said body member and communicating therewith, a relatively easily yielding flexible brush element projecting from one side of said digital projections, strong'relatively stiff brush elements mounted on the opposite sides of said digital projections, the walls of said digital members having an opening therethrough adjacent said relatively stiif brush elements whereby when said body member is connected with a point of reduced pressure fluid will ilow through said openings and into. said hollow body member.

' 4. A vacuum brush for Venetian blinds comprising an elongate hollow body member, a plurality of spaced brush supporting elementslextending outward from the same side and in the same general direction from said body member, said elements being slotted and having passages therein communicating with said body member,

aaaasoa fan shaped brushes on one side of said elements, twin groups of bristles projecting from the opposite sides of said elements, said slot being between said bristle groups.

5. In a. vacuum brush for Venetian blinds or the like, a hollow body member, a handle means therefor, a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel digital projections, having channels therethrough, extending from the same side of said body member and communicating therewith, the walls of said digital projections being perforate throughout a substantial portion of their lengths, brush members mounted on said digital projections and extending substantially throughout the length thereof, said brush members having bristles on two opposite sides of each said opening and in such relation thereto that dust disturbed by said brush members is drawn into each respective opening, through said body member and into a suitable receptacle such as the bag of a vacuum cleaner.

6. A vacuum brush for Venetian blinds comprising an elongate body member having a channel therein, a plurality of spaced brush supporting elements extending outwardly from the same side and in the same general direction from said body member, each of said elements having a passage therein communicating with the channel in said body member, bristle means on one side of said elements, two sets of bristles projecting from the opposite sides of said elements, the walls of said elements having an opening therethrough between Y the two sets of bristles.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5, said digital projections comprising a cylinder and a mating shell therefor, said brush members being mounted between said cylinder and .said shell on opposite sides of said cylinder.

8. The combination set forth in claim 2, said. brush supporting elements comprising a cylinder and a mating shell member therefor, said relatively stii'l bristle means being mounted between said cylinder and said mating shell member and said relatively soft'bristle means being mounted on the upper portion ofsaid shell member.

9. The combination set forth in claim 2, said brush supporting element comprising a cylinder and a mating shell therefor, regular tooth-like projections onY the outer surface of said cylinder, said brush members being mounted betweensaid cylinder and said shell, said tooth-like members serving as spacing means. Y

RICHARD 1. DIGGs. 

